I am SOOOO sorry for not updating! I've been working around with the ideas of the story, and high school's been driving me off my rocker. Latin is so much fun, lol. 3 I actually just got back from theater club. Today we got to learn stage combat, and it was hilarious. I got to fake-smack my friend and we were cracking up. My friend Bertin...I fake-slapped him and he screamed like a girl and fell over. XD Our teacher was showing us how to fake slap and another teacher walked in and was like, "Ms. Canada!? Why are you slapping the students!?" No joke. It was so funny. lol. GRAAAAAH DEVIL SUMMONER THE VIDEO GAME I TOLD YOU ABOUT IS SO AMAZING I CAN'T STOP PLAYING IT BUT OMG IT'S HARD AND I LOVE DAHN I WANNA CRY YAAAAAY RAIDOU! -shot-
"The Jewel of Suzaku...The Jewel of Genbu...The Jewel of Byakko...The Jewel of Seiyru..."
Aki stood at the entrance to the rebellion village, her eyes distant. She had left the apartment when the others were still asleep, and she had a feeling that in the sky above, the sun hadn't even peeked yet. She didn't sleep at all last night...and she still wasn't feeling very tired. She sighed and crossed her arms, leaning against the wall and closing her eyes. "What's our purpose, exactly...?" She murmured to herself. "What happens when we all meet in the Land of Ages? What's the outcome when we DO?"
"Curious about the answers?"
She glanced around to see Nodoka approaching her, a bag slung over his shoulder, his bangs falling neatly into his gray eyes. He looked refreshed, like he had slept well, but she knew better. He hadn't. She'd noticed that when Nodoka was tired or aggravated, he stuffed his hands into the very bottom of his pockets...and that was exactly what he was doing right now. He stopped a few feet away from her, his eyes narrowed on her face.
"I was just wondering," She said, smirking at him and looking back at the ground. "I just keep thinking about what happens to US afterwards. Do the Gods and Goddesses leave our bodies and return to where they belong...or do they stay within us till we die?"
"Well, that's the one million dollar question, isn't it?" Nodoka grunted. He walked over and sat down, leaning against the wall of the village.
"So...you don't know?"
"I know about as much as you do," he said, sighing and resting his chin in his palm. "Kabuto-sama never told me much about the Jewels. I know what I know, and that's all...And I know that if I go with you guys, I'll be able to finish up whatever 'duty' I'm supposed to fulfill...then I can be rid of you idiots for good."
"Oh, is that the real reason you're coming?" Aki sneered. "Not because you wanna prove you're not a coward?"
"Don't mess with me this early in the morning, brat," Nodoka growled.
"...." Aki stared down at him, her eyes thoughtful. Then, a memory flashed into her head. "...Nodoka..."
"What?"
"Uh..." She shrugged and glanced down at her feet. "Do you remember...that time at that shrine? When I touched you, and-" Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him tense up a bit. "I mean...those memories were yours, weren't they? Of you, Ryuu, and your mo-"
"Shut up," Nodoka spat, his eyes hidden by his bangs. He'd clenched his fists together and his hands were shaking slightly. "Shut up now, if you know what's good for you."
Aki narrowed her eyes slightly. "No." She sat down beside him, crossing her arms over her chest. "Your mother-"
"Just..." he gritted his teeth together so hard that she could hear the friction. "Just stop...okay...?"
"But I-"
"Please..." he shook his head. "Don't talk about that anymore..."
"...." Aki stared at him, her eyes wide.
"Aki-chan!"
Both jumped and looked up to see Inami walking towards them, but she stopped at seeing the two of them together.
"H-hey, Inami!" Aki grinned and got to her feet, jogging over to her friend. "You slept in, eh?"
"It's still early, Aki-chan..." Inami murmured, her eyes not on her friend but on Nodoka.
The Jewel of Suzaku caught her eyes and he quickly looked away, his hands clenched together. Inami frowned and looked back at Aki.
"Yeeeah..." Aki scratched her nose. "I was waiting when he showed up," She hooked her thumb over her shoulder at Nodoka. "He's in a brooding mood right now. Leave him be...Are Kishun and Shuro awake yet?"
"No," Inami shook her head, still frowning.
"Kuh..." Aki sighed. "We really need to get going."
"....." Nodoka frowned.
Asuka yawned and leaned back in the naked tree, his silver hair falling over his shoulders. All of the trees lay on the ground and were being covered with the gentle white snow that was drifting down from the dark gray sky. "So much has happened..." He said with a light sigh, examining his nails. "I wonder what Aki-chan and Nodoka-kun are up to...?"
"Hurry up, Naruto-kun!"
Asuka blinked and looked down.
Sai, Sakura and Naruto, three of the shinboi from Konoha, were trudging through the snow in the direction of the Land of Ages. He blinked in surprise and leaned down a bit, watching.
"I'm not good at walking in snow!" Naruto whined, tripping and grabbing Sai's shoulder so he wouldn't fall face first into the snow. "I should've brought Sasuke..."
"He's not a traveling furnace, Naruto," Sakura scolded him.
"Keh."
"I don't think you should go that way," Asuka warned them, grinning. They all looked up, noticing him.
"Hey, you're that kid," Sakura pointed out. "From that time back in the village! When we first found out that Aki as still alive..."
"I'm Asuka," He said, nodding politely at them.
"What do you mean, we shouldn't go that way?" Sai inquired, walking up and standing beside Naruto. "That's the only pathway to the Land of Ages."
"Yes, but you shouldn't go that way..." Asuka leaped down from the tree and landed on his toes in front of them. "There's danger up ahead that way," he murmured, hooking a thumb over his shoulder. "If you all know what's good for you, you'll find a way around."
"There aren't any other ways around," Naruto snapped.
"Oh, yes there is..." Asuka smiled and pointed to the right. "If you just go that way and turn at the large tree that looks like a 'V', you'll find yourself back on the right path." He placed his hands on his hips and took on an oddly serious look, which was odd for him. "I know that you, Naruto-sama, and the Kazekage, Gaara-sama, are going to stand up for the Jewels at the Kage meeting," he murmured, his blue eyes narrowed. "But do not chase after them."
"What?" Sakura said, blinking.
"Aki-chan, Nodoka-chan and Tsuke-chan...those three need to handle this on their own. They can accept allies if they wish, but in the end, this is their battle. Not yours."
"We know that," Naruto said, his eyes narrowing on the youth. "And that's why we want to talk the other village leaders out of trying to kill them!"
"...." Asuka was silent, his face betraying nothing.
"Let's just go," Sakura huffed, grabbing Naruto and Sai's sleeves.
"You know, it's curious," Asuka said with a small tight, tapping his chin with his long, thin index finger. "Everyone's been so concerned about the Jewels lately, they haven't been thinking about Kabuto at all..."
The three of them looked back around at him quickly.
Asuka smirked.
"If you want to know more about Kabuto, go the normal route," He said with a lofty sigh, waving his hand in their direction. "But if you are more focused on the Jewels, follow my advice. See yah." He winked at them over his shoulder and walked off.
"....Naruto," Sakura looked at him, her eyes narrowed. "What should we do...?"
He frowned slightly.
"...." Yuki stared into the distance for a long time, her teal eyes blank. After a moment, she frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. Ridiculous. This whole thing was disgusting and ridiculous. "Why are they such idiots...?" She whispered, shaking her head.
"Who?"
She looked around in surprise to see Michiru.
He approached her so that they were both standing by Konoha's Northern most gate. Yuki glanced at her cousin before sighing and leaning on the gate.
"The Kages..." She murmured. "They're all such idiots..."
Michiru blinked. "Even-"
"Even Gaara-oji, Naruto-oji, Rei-san and Akume-san!" Yuki snapped. "They're all idiots! Every single one of them! They think they can change the way the Jewels think or what their fates are going to be...ugh..." Yuki closed her eyes tightly and clutched her head, sinking down to her knees.
"Y-Yuki!?" Michiru knelt down beside her, grabbing her shoulder. "Yuki, are you okay?"
"It just keeps coming back to me..." She whispered, tears blurring her vision. "That...t-that dream I had...the prophecy..." She closed her eyes tightly, biting her lower lip. "When everyone was...dead, a-and there was a person standing there...h-holding Gaara-oji's head...and they had green eyes...I keep seeing that..."
"We don't even know what that means yet," Michiru tried to comfort her, but it didn't work.
"I have my own idea of what it means!" She cried. "Those eyes...they were so familiar. They looked just like Gaara-oji's..." She let out a strangled sob. "It might've been metaphorical...I don't know, but...it might've even been true, I just..."
"What?" He blinked.
"Me original thought was...t-that person holding Gaara-Oji's head...the person who killed everyone...was Aki...a-and I-"
"T-That's stupid, Yuki!" Michiru interrupted. "She would never-"
"I told you it might be metaphorical!" She said desperately. "But...I don't know..." She shook her head and closed her eyes, sighing shakily.
"...." Michiru frowned and leaned down, hugging her gently. "Yuki...please. Stop thinking about that dream. Tou-san promised he'd bring it up at the meeting, so you don't have to worry about that anymore. Just forget about it."
"You didn't see it, Michiru," She murmured. "If you had seen it...you would realize that it's something you just can't push out of your mind."
He fell silent.
"It was horrible," She sighed and leaned against him. "Seeing all that blood, and seeing everyone...d-dead...you included, and-..." She cut herself off, thinking about Okojo. "It was scary. It also made me think back to the time I had my vision about...my real mother dying. And then actually seeing her there before me, bloodied and not breathing..." She looked at him, her eyes wide.
"I think I'd go insane if I saw what I saw in my dream happen to everyone close to me."
"....I'm not going to let it happen," he promised her. "I'll do everything within my power to protect everyone we know. I just have to."
"..."
"Even Aki..." Michiru smiled. "I'm her big brother, and as her big brother, it's my duty to make sure she follows the right path in life."
She watched him, frowning slightly.
"I can't make her decisions for her, but..." He sighed, smiling meekly. "But I can still influence them."
"I hope so," Yuki mumbled, her eyes dark.
"Can we hit the road now!?" Snapped Aki, hands on her hips.
Nodoka glared at her. "Annoying." He grunted.
Kishun tossed him a nasty look and stayed close to Shuro and Aki, his arms crossed over his chest. Inami stood behind him, her eyes on Nodoka.
"Where's Okojo-san?" Aki asked, looking around. People were finally moving about the village, but there was no sign of the young man or any of his friends. She sighed and looked over at Nodoka, her eyebrows raised.
He stared aloofly in the opposite direction for a moment before he felt her eyes on his neck. He glanced around and caught her gaze. He frowned. "What?"
"What?" She asked, smirking.
He shook his head.
"Aki-san!"
They looked around to see Tsuki racing up to them, his long golden hair flying behind him.
"Tsuki-san!" Aki smiled at him. "Where's Okojo-san? We need t-"
"You have to get out of here!" Tsuki cried. He walked forward and gabbed Aki's arm, staring at her with his desperate blue eyes. "All of you! Especially Aki-san and Nodoka-san! You guys need to run!"
"W-what's going on?" Inami asked, fear entering her eyes.
"There's a young boy here...probably younger then you," he looked at Aki. "He has black hair and blue eyes."
Aki blinked and looked at Nodoka, but he shook his head.
"Ryuu's sixteen," he reminded her.
"R-right..." She frowned, confused.
"Anyway, you guys need to hurry!" Tsuki pleaded. "Okojo-kun and Misago-kun are holding him off for now, but I don't know how long they can-" The ground suddenly shook beneath them, making all of them stumble over each other.
"Ah-!" Inami tripped and fell into Nodoka's arms. Her face turned red.
"You okay?" Nodoka helped her back up and looked at Aki, his eyes narrowed. "We need to go," he said sharply, making them all look at him in surprise. He and Aki stared at each other for a moment, before Aki nodded.
"Yeah," She grabbed Kishun, keeping him close to her. "How do we get out?" She asked, looking back at Tsuki.
He nodded. "Follow me." He looked around, his eyes narrowed. People had started to panic...they were running around screaming, trying to figure out what was happening. Another explosion shook the ground, making a few people fall off their feet. "Hurry!"
He turned and hurried along the back of the village, the five teens at his heels. They ducked behind buildings, staying very close to each other.
"Who do you think it is?" Aki asked Nodoka, slowing her pace a bit so that she was running at his side.
"No clue," he huffed.
"...." She frowned.
"Ugh-" Nodoka winced and grabbed his arm. It had never healed properly after the many times it had been reopened. It was starting to hurt again and he slowed down considerably, falling behind the others.
"Oh no you don't!" Aki fell back as well and grabbed his arm. "Keep up! You're not staying behind!"
He stared at her.
"You're a man, aren't you?" She snapped. "Suck it up!" Tugging on his good arm, she managed to pull him back into a steady pace.
"This way," Tsuki told them, turning a sharp corner, but-
Out of nowhere there was a bright blast, sending them all flying. Nodoka instinctively grabbed Aki and they both slammed to the ground beside Kishun who had ducked down to avoid getting the full blow. Tsuki had turned, grabbed Shuro and Inami, and had taken most of the pain to protect the two girls.
"Gah-..." Aki winced, sitting up beside Nodoka. "What the hell-"
"Get down!" Nodoka grabbed her and forced her down. Just as he did so, a huge explosion rendered the wall behind them to ruble. The hidden staircase that Tsuki had been leading them to was revealed and the light from the upper world sunk down upon them.
"Geez..." Aki sat up again, rubbing her head. She glanced down at Nodoka who looked a bit startled but was unhurt. She struggled to her feet, wincing. "Everyone okay?"
"Fine over here," Grunted Kishun, gripping his bloodied knee.
"We're okay," Inami squeaked as she and Shuro helped Tsuki to his feet.
"Jewel of Seiyru. Jewel of Suzaku."
They all looked up to see someone standing on a nearby roof.
It was a boy...probably about Inami's age or a bit older. He had short, ruffled black hair and piercing blue eyes that looked almost white. He was a very pretty boy, and there was something familiar about him to Nodoka...
"Who are you!?" Aki snapped, glaring at him.
He ignored her. "Die," he whispered, holding his hand out. A white light surrounded him-
"Taoism!" Cried Nodoka. "SUZAKU!" There was a flash of red and the bird appeared. Just as the white light burst from the boy's body, Suzaku summoned up a wall of flame that absorbed the attack.
"Wow-..." Aki blinked, standing behind Nodoka, her eyes wide.
"Tch..." The boy's blue eyes narrowed as they fell on Nodoka. "..." he blinked. "I know you..." he murmured.
Nodoka stared at him.
"You're...that Murasaki boy. The younger one!"
Nodoka's eyes turned into cat-like slits that reflected Suzaku's flames. "You must be connected to Kabuto-sama, if you know me."
The boy watched him carefully.
"Will you stop chit chatting with the guy!?" Kishun snapped at Nodoka. He would've punched the older boy if his legs wasn't bleeding and hurting so badly.
Nodoka ignored him. "Let's go," He said, looking at Aki.
She nodded. "Tsuki-san, Inami, we-"
"I won't let you escape!" Snarled the boy, as a large and more powerful white light rose from his body.
"Damn it!" Nodoka tried to pull up the shield of flames in time, but-
The blast flew from his body and exploded around them, sending them flying in all directions.
Aki grappled for the closest thing close to her, and she felt her hand touch another for a moment, but she couldn't grab it. She flew through the and then proceeded to slam to the ground. But she didn't just fall and get back up like she normally did...
When she landed on the ground, her head smacked hard into the ground.
Her eyes widened in shock for a moment before a black veil was placed over her eyes and she fell unconscious, her friend's screaming still in her ears...
Ooooooh, the drama. First Nodoka and Aki talk for a little bit with the blah blah blah and the bleh bleh bleh....Then Asuka talks to Naruto, Sakura and Sai who are on their way to the kage meeting. He tells them what's going on and that they should stay away from the main road, yada yada yada....Yuki talks more about her dream and she reveals that she thinks it was Aki who she saw in her dream. Michiru tries to comfort her. Back in the rebellion, their leaving is cut short when the boy who attacked Rei before comes back and uses Taoism...Nodoka tired to protect everyone but they get attacked and Aki gets knocked out cold...WHAT'S NEXT!?!?!??
